Defective article rejector



Sept. 22, 1959 ca. D. HORGAN DEFECTIVE ARTICLE REJECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 20, 1955 INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN Sept. 22, 1959 s. D.HORGAN DEFECTIVE ARTICLE REJECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1955INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN United Stts DEFECTIVE ARTICLE REJECTORGeorge Daniel Horgan, London, England, assignor to American Machine &Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application December20,1955, Serial No. 554,323

Claims priority, application Great Britain December 23, 1954 4 Claims.(Cl. 209-74) This invention relates to means for causing the rejection,or segregation, of articles such as cigarettes from a succession thereofin accordance with a detected or measured property of such articles. Theinvention may be applied with particular advantage to cigarettesproduced by a continuous rod cigarette making machine where it isrequired to detect and to reject any cigarettes which do not conform toa predetermined standard or range of properties, e.g. those which aresubject to irregularities or faults such as undesired variations intobacco content or density. However, the invention is not restricted tosuch applications but may be employed for segregating or classifyingother articles in accordance with one or more detected properties orrange of properties of such articles.

It has been proposed in connection with continuous rod cigarette makingmachines to operate a rejecting means for faulty cigarettes through themedium of a timing device or so-called memory wheel consisting of arqtet aad' aar a anumb 't s n za: ly spaced eat ijifitiieriphryf'thearea/endear of the ms 'b'eingsynchronized with that of the cigarettesdelivered by the machine. The pins are passed in succession between thepoles of a magnetizing coil which is energized under the control of adetecting means when the latter detects a faulty cigarette and the pinpassing the coil at that time becomes magnetized. The magnetized pinsubsequently passes betwen the poles of a pick-up or generating coil togenerate a relay, and the latter efiects or causes operation of a devicewhich diverts or displaces the faulty cigarette from its normal path andeffects rejection thereof. The pins afterwards pass between the poles ofa demagnetizing coil which restores any magnetized pins to their initialor unmagnetized condition ready for a further operation.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an improvedarrangement for effecting rejection or segregation of articles from asuccession thereof in accordance with a measured or detected property,which arrangement is simpler and less expensive than that described inthe preceding paragraph. A further object is to provide simplified meansfor the above purpose capable of operation at high speeds and withoutinterrupting the feed or advance of the articles, and which can bereadily adjusted to effect the rejection or segregation of articles atdifferent predetermined positions relative to the position of detection.

The invention comprises a carrier for displaceably mounted membersmovable in an orbital path in synchronism with the travel of thearticles and individually displaceable against a stop under the controlof a detecting or measuring device to a position for actuating a memberto cause displacement and hence rejection or segregation of an article,means for preventing rebound or return of the members when displaced,and guide means for subsequently returning displaced members to theirinitial position ready for a further operation.

The invention also comprises an arrangement accord- 2,905,319 PatentedSept. 22, 1959 ing to the preceding paragraph in which the carrier is arotatably mounted wheel or disc and the displaceable members are steelpins freely slidable in axial bores uniformly spaced near the peripherythereof, the stop being .aiforded by a plate or another surface disposedon one side of the wheel or disc and parallel thereto and havingassociated therewith permanent or other magnets arranged to create amagnetic field through which the end of the displaced pins pass wherebythey are arrested and prevented from rebounding from the stop.

According to a further feature of the invention, axial displacement ofthe pins is effected by an electromagnetic device or relay, the movablearmature of which carries or actuates a deflecting plate which, whenactuated, strikes the end of the rapidly travelling pin and causes thelatter to be propelled into the magnetic field.

According to a further feature of the invention the axially displacedpins are returned to their initial position, after actuation of therejecting or segregating means, by a fixed cam shaped guiding surface orramp. Preferably said guiding surface is arranged to effect a partialreturn of the pin to a position for actuation of the aforesaid memberwhich eifects displacement of the desired article for rejection orsegregation purposes. In a preferred arrangement the displaced pinengages a pawl or trip lever for actuating a displacing lever or kickerarranged to displace the desired article sideways out of an advancingline of articles. In an application to continuous rod cigarette makingmachines, the kicker acts on the cigarettes advancing lengthwise on aconveyer band and displaces the faulty cigarettes to a parallel runningconveyer band or, alternatively, into a suitable receptacle.

In a preferred arrangement according to the invention the rotary disc orwheel carrying the displaceable pins is mounted above and with its axisparallel to a conveyer band upon which cigarettes or other articles areadvanced, and the displacing or rejecting mechanism is arranged betweenthe disc or wheel and the conveyer band.

Any desired mechanism or device can be employed to measure or detect therequired property of the cigarettes or other articles which determinestheir rejection or segregation. Preferably such mechanism or deviceincludes an electrical or an electronic circuit which provides anelectrical pulse for actuating the desired magnetizable member or pin.

A further feature of the invention comprises the mounting of theactuating means for the displaceable magnetizing members and of magneticarresting means for angular adjustment about an axis of the orbital pathor of the rotary wheel or disc for timing purposes and to enable thenumber of articles between the point of detection or measurement and thepoint of rejection or displacement to be varied.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for rejecting faultycigarettes, arranged and constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 1 with certain parts removed.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient modeas applied by way of example to mechanism for rejecting faultycigarettes produced by a continuous rod cigarette making machine, thereis provided, as shown in Fig. 3, a carrier for displaceably mountedmagnetizable members movable in an orbital path consisting of arotatably mounted disc 1, the peripheral portion of which is axiallythickened at 2 and is formed with 3 a series of uniformly spaced bores 3parallel with its axis. These bores carry freely slidable steel pins 4of preferably not more than inch diameter, in order to reduce inertia,and somewhat longer than the bores.

The disc 1 is secured to a hub 5 rotatably mounted on ball and journalbearings 6 and 7 on a fixed spindle or stub shaft 8 carried by astationary support 9. A gear wheel 10 secured to the hub 5 enables thedisc 1 to be driven through suitable gearing (not shown). The number ofpins 4 is chosen to be in excess of the number of cigarettes between adetecting or measuring point and the point at which faulty cigarettesare rejected by displacing them from the line of cigarettes deliveredfrom the machine. The disc is driven at a speed such that the pins aredisplaced in a circular path in synchronism with the travel of thecigarettes from the machine.

A fixed member such as a disc 11 is secured to one end of the fixedspindle 8 and to it a second member, preferably a disc 12, is attachedby distance studs 13, the two discs 11 and 12 being parallel to therotatable disc 1 which lies between them. The fixed disc 11 carries anelectromagnetic device or relay having a coil 14 and a movable armature15 having an extension 16 to which is attached a deflecting plate 17.The armature 15 is resiliently (or pivotally) mounted to have a smalldisplacement and is loaded by a spring 18 so that it returns toinoperative position when the coil 14 is de-energized. The coil iscarried by a bracket 19 secured to the disc 11, and the armature 15 iscarried by a subsidiary bracket 20. The extension 16 and the deflectingplate 17 are accommodated in a suitable gap or channel in the disc 11.The arrangement is such that when the armature 15 is energized thedeflecting plate 17 is moved to strike the projecting end of a pin 4passing the deflecting plate at that instant. The disc 12 carries a stoppad or plate 21 of vulcanized fibre or other suitable shock absorbingmaterial located opposite the deflecting plate 17 and arranged toreceive and arrest a pin which has been propelled outwardly by operationof the armature. Also mounted on or adjacent to the stop plate 21 are apair of magnets 22 arranged to create a magnetic field extending acrossthe path of a pin which has been displaced outwardly as described above.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a pair of horseshoe permanent magnets arebolted or otherwise secured against the stop pad 21 and between thelatter and the rotatable disc 1, the magnet poles being oppositelydisposed and spaced on opposite sides of the circular path taken by thepins so as to afford a slot 23 (see Figure 2) through which displacedpins can pass. The arrangement is such that when a pin 4 is displacedand propelled at high speed through its bore 3 by operation of thedeflecting plate 17, its forward end enters the magnetic field whichacts to arrest the entering pin and prevents it from rebounding backwhen it strikes the stop pad 21, which would otherwise occur.

An arcuately disposed guiding surface or ramp 24 is provided adjacent tothe magnet assembly and is shaped to effect first a partial return andsubsequently a complete return of a displaced pin to its initialposition. This ramp comprises an arcuate metal strip extending oversomewhat less than 360 and secured to the disc 12 by screws 25 includingdistance pieces, one of which is shown at 26 in Figure 1, theinterrupted portion of the strip accommodating the permanent magnetassembly 22. From the latter the ramp affords a surface 24a (Figure l)gently inclined to effect a partial return of a displaced pin, followedby a surface 24b lying in a plane perpendicular to the disc axis andleading to the trip or displacing member, to be later described,situated at the lowest point of the disc. Following the said lowestpoint, the ramp provides an inclined surface 24c for returning the pinto its initial position in the disc 1.

The apparatus is mounted with the axis of the rotary disc 1 above andparallel to a conveyer 27 upon which the cigarettes 28 are advanced endto end. A pawl or trip lever 29 is pivoted at 30 on a bracket 31 securedto a stationary part 32. A kicker lever 33 is pivoted at 34 on thebracket 31, and has its lower end disposed at right angles to constitutea plate 35 which ordinarily lies alongside the line of cigarettes on theconveyer 27. The pawl lever 29 has a downwardly extending arm 36 whichcan engage a rubber covered pin 37 extending laterally from the kickerlever 33. The pawl lever 29 is ordinarily held by a strong loadingspring 38 against a stop 29a. The kicker lever is loaded by a lightspring 39 and is held by the pawl lever in an inoperative position asdescribed above. Pins 4 in the rotary disc 1 which have not beendisplaced pass by the pawl lever 29, but a displaced pin engages thetrip lever as seen in Figure 4 and displaces it counter-clockwiseagainst the action of the spring 38, permitting the kicker lever to movecounter-clockwise under the action of the light spring 39. As soon asthe pin 4 leaves the nose 41 of the pawl lever 29 the latter is rapidlyreturned by its spring 38 taking with it the kicker lever 33 which isthereby sharply propelled or kicked in a clockwise direction and fliesout against the pull of its light loading spring 39 so that the plate 35is moved to displace a cigarette then opposite said plate and cause thecigarette to leave the conveyer sideways.

The position of the parts in Figure 4 shows the pawl lever 29 displacedby a pin 4 and just before it is released to propel the kicker lever asdescribed above. The cigarette so displaced can be received directly bya waste receptacle or it can be transferred to another conveyer. The pin4 which has just operated the trip lever is then returned to its initialposition in the rotary disc 1 by the inclined ramp portion 240 aspreviously described. The arrangement is such that the number of pins 4in the disc 1 is in excess of the number of cigarettes between the pointof detection or measurement and the point of lateral ejection by thekicker lever, and the speed of rotation of the disc 1 is such that whena faulty cigarette has been detected the electromagnetic device isactuated to displace a pin which subsequently causes the ejection of thefaulty cigarette when opposite the kicker arm plate 35.

The fixed spindle 8 carrying the electromagnetic device for pindisplacement and the permanent magnet assembly is mounted for angularadjustment. For this purpose the shaft is secured in a bore in itssupport 9 by one or more set screws 42 and has a square socket end 43for adjustment purposes. A levelling wheel 44 driven by a belt 45 may bearranged to engage the cigarettes as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Any desired form of detector or measuring device can be employed fordetecting faulty cigarettes and includes an electrical or electroniccircuit capable of giving an electrical pulse, when a faulty cigaretteis detected, to operate the pin displacing device or relay. The angularposition of the said device, and of the stop pad and permanent magnetassembly, is adjusted so that the pin displaced upon detection of afaulty cigarette will subsequently operate the trip lever to displaceand reject such cigarette.

The partial return of displaced pins before they operate the trip deviceis not essential but may be advantageous where a small amount of reboundmay occur occasionally. It is necessary, however, that the pins shouldnot be moving axially While operating the trip, and for this purpose theguide surface or ramp lies in a plane perpendicular to the rotary discaxis at this point.

It will be seen that the invention provides a means for the purposedescribed which is capable of reliable operation at high speeds andwhich enables the displaceable members or pins of the timing or memorydevice to etfect direct operation of the ejecting mechanism without thecomplication of further electrical circuits. Also, the apparatus can beadjusted for different distances between the detecting and ejectingpoints or stations in an extremely simple and convenient manner. Theinvention is not restricted to the example described above since thestructural form and arrangement of the various elements can be varied,and also the arrangement can be adapted to deal with articles other thancigarettes.

I claim:

1. A defective article rejector for rejecting or segregating articlesfrom a succession thereof in accordance with a detected property of sucharticles comprising a rotatably mounted disc having a plurality of axialbores uniformly spaced near the periphery thereof, each of said boreshaving a freely slidable pin disposed therein, said disc being adaptedto move said pins in an orbital path in synchronism with the travel ofthe articles to be rejected, a stop plate disposed adjacent one side ofthe disc and parallel thereto, a relay operative in response to a signalfrom a detecting device and having an armature adapted when actuated, todisplace said pins laterally against said stop plate, magnetic means forgenerating a magnetic field having pole pieces positioned adjacent theorbital path of travel of said displaced pins, said pole pieces beingspaced to provide an air gap with magnetic flux flowing therebetweenthrough which said pins pass during their lateral movement toward saidstop plate, whereby said magnetic flux arrest the motion of said pinswhen displaced to prevent rebound thereof, guide means for subsequentlyreturning said displaced pins to their initial position, and meansactuated by each displaced pin for removing an article out of anadvancing line of articles.

2. A defective article rejector for rejecting or segregating articlesfrom a succession thereof in accordance with a detected or measuredproperty of such articles comprising a rotatably mounted disc having aplurality of axial bores uniformly spaced near the periphery thereof,each of said bores having a freely slidable pin disposed therein, saiddisc being adapted to move said pins in an orbital path in synchronismwith the travel of the articles to be rejected, a stop plate disposedadjacent one side of the disc and parallel thereto, a relay operative inresponse to a signal from a detecting device mounted adjacent the otherside of said disc and having a movable armature, a deflecting platesecured to said armature and positioned opposite said stop plate andoperative when actuated to displace said pins laterally against saidstop plate, magnetic means mounted on said stop plate and opposite tosaid deflecting plate, said magnetic means having pole pieces ofopposite polarity mounted in a spaced relationship on opposite sides ofthe orbital path described by said pins to define a slot through whichsaid moving pins pass, said pole pieces having magnetic flux flowingtherebetween across said slot and operative to prevent rebound of thepins when displaced, guide means for subsequently returning saiddisplaced pins to their initial position, and means actuated by eachdisplaced pin for removing an article out of an advancing line ofarticles.

3. A defective article rejector for rejecting or segregating articlesfrom a succession thereof in accordance with a detected or measuredproperty of such articles comprising a rotatably mounted disc having aplurality of axial bores uniformly spaced near the periphery thereof,each of said bores having a freely slidable pin disposed therein, saiddisc being adapted to move said pins in an orbital path in synchronismwith the travel of the articles to be rejected, a stop plate disposedadjacent one side of the disc and parallel thereto, a relay operative inresponse to a signal from a detecting device and having an armatureadapted when actuated, to displace said pins laterally against said stopplate, magnetic means for generating a magnetic field having pole piecespositioned adjacent the orbital path of travel of said displaced pins,said pole pieces being spaced to provide an air gap with magnetic fluxflowing therebetween through which said pins pass during their lateralmovement toward said stop plate whereby said magnetic flux retards themotion of said pins when displaced to prevent rebound thereof, guidemeans for subsequently returning said displaced pins to their initialposition and means actuated by each displaced pin for removing anarticle out of an advancing line of articles, said guide means includingan arcuate ramp disposed adjacent substantially the entire orbital pathof travel of said pins and having a surface in engagement with an end ofeach of said displaced, orbitally moving pins, said ramp having a firstinclined portion for effecting partial return of said displaced pin, aflat portion disposed parallel to said disc and adjacent said articleremoving means to prevent axial movement of said pins during actuationof said article removing means and a second inclined portion terminatingsaid ramp for returning said pins to their initial re-set position.

4. A defective article rejector for rejecting or segregating articlesfrom a succession thereof in accordance with a detected or measuredproperty of such articles comprising a rotatably mounted disc having aplurality of axial bores uniformly spaced near the periphery thereof,each of said bores having a freely slidable pin disposed therein, saiddisc being adapted to move said pins in an orbital path in synchronismwith the travel of the articles to be rejected, a stop plate disposedadjacent one side of the disc and parallel thereto, a relay operative inresponse to a signal from a detecting device mounted adjacent the otherside of said disc and having a movable armature, a deflecting platesecured to said armature and positioned opposite said stop plate andoperative when actuated to displace said pins laterally against saidstop plate, magnetic means mounted on said stop plate and opposite tosaid deflecting plate, said magnetic means having pole pieces ofopposite polarity mounted in a spaced relationship on opposite sides ofthe orbital path described by said pins to define a slot through whichsaid moving pins pass, said pole pieces having magnetic flux flowingtherebetween across said slot and operative to prevent rebound of thepins when displaced, guide means for subsequently returning saiddisplaced pins to their initial position, means actuated by eachdisplaced pin for removing an article out of an advancing line ofarticles, said guide means including an arcuate ramp dis-- posedadjacent substantially the entire orbital path of travel of said pinsand having a surface in engagement with an end of each of saiddisplaced, orbitally moving pins, said ramp having a first inclinedportion for effecting partial return of said displaced pin, a flatportion disposed parallel to said disc and adjacent said articleremoving means to prevent axial movement of said pins during actuationof said article removing means and a second inclined portion terminatingsaid ramp for returning said pins to their initial re-set position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,008,870 Little July 23, 1935 2,217,342 Ladrach Oct. 8, 1940 2,312,357Odquist et al Mar. 2, 1943 2,357,860 Whitaker Sept. 12, 1944

